JP5490398B2 - Processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing facility for sequentially processing a target object in a plurality of process chambers to obtain a processed product.

  For example, in a factory that manufactures solid preparations such as pharmaceuticals, for example, weighing, granulation, sieving, and forming into tablets for powder raw materials to be processed and intermediate products obtained from the powder raw materials A plurality of process chambers for processing such as (tablet), inspection, and packaging are provided, and the above-mentioned object to be processed is stored in a transport container such as a container, and is performed on the object to be processed. These are sequentially transferred to these process chambers according to the order of processing.

  In such a factory, since the above transport container is heavy, for example, a container transport mechanism called a stacker crane that can run on a horizontally laid rail is installed, and the transport of this stacker crane is also performed. A technique is known in which a plurality of process chambers are arranged on both sides along a path, and a transport container is transported between the plurality of process chambers using this stacker crane. In such a factory, for example, a conveyor or the like is used so that a plurality of rows of transfer chambers (passages) and process chambers of the stacker crane are arranged in parallel and one end sides of the plurality of transfer paths are connected to each other. The horizontal transfer mechanism is arranged, and the transfer container is transferred between the plurality of stacker cranes by this conveyor. Therefore, the powder raw material is sequentially transported to each process chamber through, for example, a plurality of stacker cranes and conveyors in a transport container, and processed from an intermediate product to a final product (solid preparation). become.

  Thus, in order to quickly produce a final product from powder raw materials, a technique for improving the conveyance efficiency (conveyance speed) of the conveyance container by increasing the number of stacker cranes that convey the conveyance container, for example, has been studied. As an example of this method, for example, in Patent Document 1, a plurality of rows of racks for storing loads are arranged, and two rails are laid between these rows of racks, and each runs on these rails. A warehouse with two possible stacker cranes is described. In this warehouse, during normal times (when the stacker crane is not broken), each stacker crane delivers the load to each adjacent rack, and when one stacker crane fails, the other stacker crane It is designed to handle one stacker crane. However, this Patent Document 1 does not describe any method for efficiently transporting a transport container in the factory described above.

Patent Documents 2 and 3 describe a method in which a conveyor is provided between two stacker cranes, and a transfer container is transferred between the stacker cranes by this conveyor. There is no description of a technique for transporting a transport container from one process chamber facing each other via a transport chamber of a crane to the other process chamber.
Patent Documents 4 and 5 describe an example in which two stacker cranes are arranged on one rail in a facility for transporting articles, but the above transport method is not described at all.

JP-A-7-125810 (paragraphs 0044 to 0053, FIG. 1) JP 2001-225906 (paragraphs 0021-0025, FIG. 2) JP 2003-276804 (paragraphs 0016 to 0020, FIG. 1) JP2008-13307 JP2007-210742A

  The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stacker crane that transports an object to be processed and a transfer container in which the process object is stored, and a transfer chamber in which the stacker crane travels. An object of the present invention is to provide a processing facility capable of quickly transporting a transport container in a processing facility provided with a plurality of process chambers arranged on both sides for sequentially processing a workpiece.

The treatment facility of the present invention is
In a processing facility for sequentially processing a workpiece in a plurality of process chambers to obtain a workpiece,
A transfer chamber having a left-side transfer path and a right-side transfer path extending parallel to each other in the front-rear direction, and
A plurality of process chambers provided adjacent to the left side and the right side of the transfer chamber, respectively, for processing the object to be processed in the transfer container;
A transfer port for delivering a transfer container to and from the process chamber, respectively, provided on a left wall surface portion and a right wall surface portion of the transfer chamber;
In order to deliver the object to be processed or the transfer container in which the process object is stored to the transfer port of the left wall surface part, a transfer table for holding the transfer container is attached so as to be movable up and down and back and forth in the horizontal direction. A first stacker crane configured to be movable along the left conveyance path;
In order to transfer the transfer container to the transfer port of the right wall surface portion, a transfer stand for holding the transfer container is mounted so as to be movable up and down and to move back and forth in the left and right directions, and movable along the right transfer path. A second stacked stacker crane,
A transfer mechanism for transferring a transfer container between the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane by transferring a transfer container through an outer region of the transfer chamber;
In order to transfer the transfer container between the first stacker crane and the transfer mechanism, and between the second stacker crane and the transfer mechanism, a first wall formed in the wall surface of the transfer chamber, respectively. A first delivery port and a second delivery port,
When the first stacker crane, the second stacker crane, and the delivery mechanism deliver the transport containers from the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane to the delivery mechanism, the transport containers in the delivery mechanism. With respect to the mounting surface, it is configured to directly transfer the transfer container from the transfer table to the delivery mechanism by passing the transfer table holding the transfer container from the upper side to the lower side, When the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane each receive a transport container from the delivery mechanism, the transport table that does not hold the transport container with respect to the mounting surface on which the transport container is placed By passing from the lower side to the upper side, the transfer mechanism to the transport table Characterized in that it is configured to convey the feed container directly.

When the transfer container is transferred between the transfer port on one side and the transfer port on the other side of the transfer port on the left side of the transfer chamber and the transfer port on the right side of the transfer chamber, the first stacker crane or the first It is preferable to include a control unit that executes a first transport mode in which the second stacker crane transports directly .
When transferring the transfer container from the one side transfer port to the other side transfer port, the control unit is configured to select one of the first transfer mode and the second transfer mode. A selection means,
In the second transfer mode, the transfer container is transferred from the transfer port on the one side to the transfer mechanism via the stacker crane on the transfer port side, the transfer port, and the transfer port on the other transfer port side. It is preferable that it is a mode which conveys to the said other conveyance port via the said other conveyance port side stacker crane.
The control unit includes: a first delivery program that transports a plurality of transport containers only in one of the first transport mode and the second transport mode; and the first transfer program according to each of the plurality of transport containers. And a second delivery program for selecting one of the second transport mode and the second transport mode to transport each transport container.

The end of one of the left transport path and the right transport path extends beyond the end of the other transport path,
In the extended region, on the wall surface portion on the extension region side of the other transport path, the delivery for delivering the transport container between the stacker crane traveling along the one transport path and the delivery mechanism Mouth is formed,
In a region near the end of the other conveyance path, a conveyance container is provided between the stacker crane that travels along the other conveyance path and the delivery mechanism on the wall surface opposite to the one conveyance path. It is preferable that a delivery port for delivering the product is formed.
One of the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane crosses over the transport path of the other stacker crane to deliver the transport container between the transport port on the one side and the transport port on the other side. Sometimes, the other stacker crane is preferably stopped at a position where it does not interfere with the one stacker crane.

At least one of the end portions in the front-rear direction of the transfer chamber extends beyond the end portions of the process chambers arranged on both sides of the transfer chamber to form a protruding portion,
At least one of the left side and the right side of the transfer chamber in the protrusion is for temporarily placing the transfer container at a position where the transfer container can be delivered by the first stacker crane or the second stacker crane. A buffer area is preferably provided.
The delivery mechanism may also serve as the buffer area.

Between the process chambers arranged along the length direction of the transfer chamber on the right side and the left side of the transfer chamber, the transfer container is placed at a position where the transfer container can be delivered by the first stacker crane or the second stacker crane. It is preferable that a buffer area for temporary placement is provided.
It is preferable that the buffer region includes a weight measuring unit for weighing the transport container.
The process chambers are preferably arranged over a plurality of levels.
It is preferable that the delivery mechanism is arranged on one level among the process chambers arranged on a plurality of levels.

In the present invention, a processing facility for sequentially processing a workpiece in a transport container in a plurality of process chambers to obtain a processed product has a left transport path and a right transport path extending in parallel in the front-rear direction in parallel with each other. In addition to providing a transfer chamber, two stacker cranes that move along the transfer paths and transfer the transfer containers are installed, and a plurality of stacker cranes are installed on both sides of the transfer chamber along the length of the transfer chamber. Process chamber is arranged. A delivery mechanism for delivering the transport container between the two stacker cranes is provided in the outer region of the transport chamber, and the transport container is directly transported between the stacker crane and the delivery mechanism. Therefore, a conveyance container can be conveyed rapidly.

  The treatment facility of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, for example, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, taking as an example a pharmaceutical manufacturing factory that manufactures a solid preparation of a pharmaceutical product that is a processed product from raw material powder that is a processed product. First, the overall configuration of this factory will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, this factory is divided into a plurality of layers, for example, two layers by a floor 11, and will be described later so as to penetrate the floor 11 and straddle a plurality of layers. 1 is horizontally provided so as to extend long in the front-rear direction (X direction in FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the raw material powder and intermediate products and products obtained from the raw material powder are formed on both side surfaces of the passage 12 so as to extend along the length direction of the passage 12 over a plurality of layers. There are a plurality of process chambers 21 for performing processing such as weighing, filling of raw material powder into a transfer container C, granulation, sieving, molding into tablets (tablet), inspection, and packaging for a certain processed product, for example. It is arranged over a plurality of levels, and each process chamber 21 is partitioned by a wall (not shown). Between the passage 12 and each process chamber 21, a door 22 that is a transfer port for carrying in and out of the transfer container C is provided. It is housed and transported. In this example, in the arrangement of two rows of process chambers 21 that face each other across the passage 12, for example, a plurality of locations in one row are provided with process chambers 21 for performing a sieving process, and the other row. For example, process chambers 21 for performing a tableting process, which is a process performed next to the sieving process, are arranged at a plurality of locations.

  Further, in the two rows of these process chambers 21, a plurality of process chambers 21 for performing the above-described plurality of processes are arranged in a predetermined layout, and therefore the transfer container C is used as a raw material powder as will be described later. Depending on the order of processing performed on the plurality of process chambers 21, the process chambers 21 are sequentially conveyed. Therefore, the transfer container C may be transferred between the rows of the process chambers 21 facing each other via the passage 12 until the product is manufactured from the raw material powder. In addition, one or more of the process chambers 21 are provided on both sides or one side of the passage 12, and a storage (not shown) for storing the object to be processed and the transfer container C that stores the processed object is provided. Then, after the workpiece is taken out from the storage by the stacker crane 2, the processing is sequentially performed through the plurality of process chambers 21 as described above.

  If these passages 12 and the two rows of process chambers 21 on both sides of the passage 12 are called stations, a plurality of these stations are arranged in parallel on one floor (hierarchy) in this factory. In many cases, this floor is laminated over a plurality of layers. In addition, this factory is provided with a horizontal transfer device such as a conveyor for transferring the transfer container C in the horizontal direction between these stations, and when the floor is arranged over a plurality of levels. A vertical transport device (not shown) such as a stacker crane for transporting the transport container C between the floors is installed. And these horizontal conveyance apparatus and vertical conveyance apparatus are comprised so that the conveyance container C may be sequentially conveyed in the inside of a factory, for example according to the order of the process performed with respect to the to-be-processed object in the conveyance container C. Yes. In FIG. 1, 13 is the outer wall of the factory. Moreover, in this FIG. 1, the channel | path 12 is shown typically.

  In the process chamber 21, as shown in FIG. 2, the transfer container C is placed horizontally between a position close to the door 22 and a processing position where the processing object and the object to be processed are taken out from the inside of the transfer container C. A conveyor transport mechanism 23 that is a container transport mechanism for transporting is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor transport mechanism 23 is arranged by combining two sets of conveyors 23a and 23a that are spaced apart from each other in the transport direction of the transport container C. The separation dimension is set to be narrower than the width dimension of the transport container C and larger than the width dimension of the later-described transport table 45. Each of these conveyors 23a and 23a is disposed in the length direction (conveying direction of the conveying container C) two by a gap, and in the gap, the position adjacent to the door 22 and the processing are arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, a partition wall 24 having a door (not shown) is provided so as to partition the position. When the transfer container C is transferred to and from the passage 12, the region closer to the door 22 than the processing position is airtightly divided to form an air lock chamber, and contamination is prevented. In addition, drawing of the partition wall 24 is abbreviate | omitted except FIG. Moreover, as this conveyor conveyance mechanism 23, the trolley | bogie etc. which are the conveyance stands by which the wheel was provided in the lower surface, etc. may be sufficient, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, there are two conveyance paths extending in the front-rear direction (X direction in FIG. 4) in parallel with each other along the process chamber 21. There are two rails 31 and 31 laid on the left rail (left conveyance path) 31 and the right rail (right conveyance path) 31, which are horizontally movable along the rails 31 and 31. The first stacker crane 2a and the second stacker crane 2b are respectively arranged. These two stacker cranes 2a and 2b have the same configuration. In FIG. 5, the number of doors 22 is omitted.

  These stacker cranes 2 (2a, 2b) are for transporting the transport containers C in which processed objects and objects to be processed are stored to the respective process chambers 21, and are spaced apart from each other as shown in FIG. And two base portions 42, 42 extending in the vertical direction and base portions 43, 43 for supporting the post portions 42, 42 from above and below. Further, wheels 52 are provided on the lower surface of the lower base portion 43 so that the stacker crane 2 can travel on the rail 31 described above along the process chamber 21. A substantially box-shaped lift 44 is provided between the column portions 42, 42, with the upper surface and both side surfaces opposite to the process chamber 21 cut out in a rectangular shape. It can be moved up and down along. On the lift 44, a transport table (fork) 45 for placing the transport container C is installed. The transport table 45 is formed to be narrower than, for example, the separation dimension of the conveyors 23a and 23a described above. In addition, it is configured to be movable forward and backward in the horizontal direction with respect to the arrangement of the process chambers 21.

  Although the transport table 45 is drawn in a simplified manner in FIG. 6, in reality, as shown in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 7, a support plate 46 made of a plate-like body and a large number of sheets stacked on the support plate 46 The three advancing / retreating plates 47 and the conveying plate 48 arranged on the advancing / retreating plate 47 are provided. In addition to the process chamber 21 on one side close to the stacker crane 2, it is separated from the stacker crane 2. The extension length (stroke) is set so that the transfer container C can be transferred also to the process chamber 21 on the other side. Specifically, for example, on both side surfaces of the support plate 46, the advance / retreat plate 47, and the transport plate 48, for example, rotating members 49 such as sprockets and rollers are provided at two positions at intervals from each other. Advancing and retracting members 50 such as chains are wound around these rotating members 49 in a bellows shape. Then, the conveyance table 45 is formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the support plate 46 and the advance / retreat plate 47 by pulling or unwinding the advance / retreat member 50 from the rotation member 49 at the end of the conveyance table 45 by a rotation mechanism (not shown). It is possible to move forward and backward with respect to the process chambers 21 on both sides through a guide that is not stored.

  When the transport container C is transported from the stacker crane 2 to the process chamber 21, for example, the transport container C is placed on the transport table 45 and the position above the conveyor transport mechanism 23 through the door 22 described above. Next, the transport platform 45 is extended from the stacker crane 2 and then the lift 44 is lowered so that the transport platform 45 passes between the conveyors 23a and 23a downward, whereby the transport container C is mounted on the conveyor transport mechanism 23. Will be placed. Further, when the transport container C is received from the process chamber 21, the stacker crane 2 operates in the reverse order.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the end portion of the passage 12 described above in the X direction extends to a region outside the alignment of the process chambers 21 to form a protruding portion 14. When the region side on which the first stacker crane 2a moves is referred to as a first passage portion 12a, and the region side on which the second stacker crane 2b moves is referred to as a second passage portion 12b. The end portion of the second passage portion 12b extends in the X direction (the direction in which the rail 31 extends) from the end portion of the first passage portion 12a. A second delivery port 16b that is opened and closed by an opening / closing mechanism 15b such as a door is formed on a side surface portion (left side surface in FIG. 4) of the extended region of the second passage portion 12b. Similarly, a first delivery port 16a opened and closed by the opening / closing mechanism 15a is opened on the left side surface of the end portion in the X direction of the first passage portion 12a. Between the transfer ports 16a and 16b, the first stacker crane has a planar layout along the U-shaped connecting passage, for example, in at least one of the plurality of layers of the factory, for example, the lowest layer. A delivery mechanism 61 for delivering the transfer container C between 2 a and the second stacker crane 2 b is provided in the outer region of the passage 12.

  The delivery mechanism 61 is configured to change the transport direction of the transport container C by 90 ° between the horizontal transport mechanisms 62 and 62 and a plurality of horizontal transport mechanisms 62 such as conveyors for transporting the transport container C horizontally, for example. Two orthogonal conveyors 63 are provided in combination. Similar to the conveyors 23a and 23a described above, the horizontal conveyance mechanism 62 adjacent to the transfer ports 16a and 16b is arranged so that the conveyance table 45 can move up and down with respect to the mounting surface of the horizontal conveyance mechanism 62. It is comprised by a pair of conveyor etc. which were arrange | positioned spaced apart with respect to the conveyance direction. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8A, for example, the orthogonal conveyor 63 includes a first conveyor 64 and a second conveyor arranged so that the conveyance directions of the conveyance containers C are perpendicular to the horizontal direction and overlap in the vertical direction. The conveyor 65 is provided. These conveyors 64 and 65 are each composed of a pair of conveyors provided so as to be separated from each other in the transport direction of the transport container C, like the above-described conveyors 23a and 23a. In the example, the second conveyor 65 can be moved up and down via the placement surface of the first conveyor 64. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8A, the first conveyor 64 has a length direction (conveying direction) such that a gap is formed in an elevating region (conveying path) of the second conveyor 65, for example. ) Is divided into three transport paths, and each transport path is connected to a driving mechanism (not shown) so that the transport container C can be transported. The mounting surface of the transport container C in the first conveyor 64 is formed to be slightly lower than the mounting surface of the horizontal transport mechanism 62.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, for example, the transport container C is transported by the horizontal transport mechanism 62 and the first conveyor 64 from the front side to the back side of the page, and the first conveyor 64 of the orthogonal conveyor 63. When placed on the upper side, the operation of the first conveyor 64 stops, the second conveyor 65 rises from the lower side of the first conveyor 64, and the first conveyor 64 as shown in FIG. A transport container C is received from the conveyor 64. Next, as shown in FIG. 4D, the transfer container C is moved by the second conveyor 65 to the horizontal transfer mechanism 62 on the rear stage in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction by the first conveyor 64 (right side in FIG. 8). It will be conveyed. Each of the horizontal transport mechanism 62 and the orthogonal conveyor 63 (conveyors 64 and 65) is configured so that the transport direction of the transport container C can be switched by 180 degrees. By repeating the transfer in the horizontal direction and the change in the transfer direction, the transfer mechanism 61 is transferred between one end side and the other end side, and is transferred between the stacker cranes 2a and 2b.

  When the transfer container C is transferred between the conveyors 64 and 65, the first conveyor 64 may be lowered and the transfer container C may be placed on the second conveyor 65. Further, as the orthogonal conveyor 63, for example, a turntable may be used in addition to the configuration in which the conveyors 64 and 65 are combined, and in that case, the mounting surface of the turntable is mounted on the horizontal transport mechanism 62. It may be the same height as the placement surface. When the turntable is provided in this way, for example, a conveyor that horizontally conveys the conveyance container C is disposed on the turntable, and the conveyance container C is placed on the turntable by the horizontal conveyance mechanism 62, and then the turntable The conveyance direction of the conveyance container C is changed by 90 degrees by the rotation of the table, and the conveyance container C is conveyed to the horizontal conveyance mechanism 62 on the rear stage side. FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section when the delivery mechanism 61 is cut along the line AA in FIG. 4 described above.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, an obstacle 30 such as a beam may be provided in the process chamber 21 described above at a position close to the door 22. 3 and 9 described above, for example, shows a process chamber 21 for performing a tableting process. The inside of the process chamber 21 is, for example, by floor surfaces 21a and 21b as shown on the left side of FIG. While being divided into three upper and lower layers, an opening 25 is formed in the floor surface 21a at the processing position on the upper layer side. The opening 25 is formed at a position where the obstacle 30 and the transport container C do not interfere with each other. Further, a tableting machine 26 for performing a tableting process, for example, is provided on the floor surface 21b below the opening 25, and a processed material supply pipe 27 extending upward from the tableting machine 26 is provided. One end side opens to the upper layer side through the opening 25. The tableting machine 26 is disposed at a position separated from an inner wall such as the door 22 of the process chamber 21 so that maintenance can be easily performed. In addition, a transport container C for storing the processed material that has been subjected to the tableting process by the tablet press 26 is installed on the lower side of the tablet press 26, and is provided at the side of the transport container C. A door 22 is formed on the side wall of the process chamber 21. In addition, the conveyance container C shown with the dotted line in FIG. 9 has shown the position where the said conveyance container C is mounted by the stacker crane 2 separated from this process chamber 21, so that it may mention later.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the factory includes a control unit 5 that controls operations of the stacker crane 2, the conveyor transport mechanism 23, and the delivery mechanism 61. The control unit 5 includes a CPU 6, a memory 7, and a program storage unit 8. It has. As described above, in this factory, there is a case where the transfer container C is delivered between the process chambers 21 arranged on both sides of the passage 12. In the present invention, in this case, the stacker crane 2 allows the transfer from the process chamber 21 on one side. From the process chamber 21 on one side via the first transport (double transport) mode M1 in which the transport container C taken out is directly transported to the process chamber 21 on the other side by the stacker crane 2 and the delivery mechanism 61 described above. The transport container C is transported by either one of the second transport mode (via the delivery mechanism 61) mode M2 transported to the other process chamber 21 using the two stacker cranes 2a and 2b. Yes. The program storage unit 8 includes a first delivery (manual switching) program 8a for transporting a plurality of transport containers C using only one of the two modes M1 and M2, and a transport container as described later. These modes M1 and M2 are appropriately selected (switched) in accordance with the object to be processed and the object to be processed stored in C, the progress of the process (advance condition), and the like. And a second delivery (automatic switching) program 8b to be conveyed.

Further, in this factory, for example, an operation screen 9 which is a mode selection unit that also serves as a display unit and an operation unit is provided as selection means. For example, the operation screen 9 can select one of the first delivery program 8a and the second delivery program 8b. When the first delivery program 8a is selected, the operation screen 9 further includes the first transfer mode M1. Either one of the second transfer modes M2 can be selected. For example, an operator in the factory operates the software switch on the screen, for example, and the above-described programs 8a and 8b and each mode M1, A transfer method of the transfer container C corresponding to M2 is selected. Then, the first delivery program 8a or the second delivery program 8b corresponding to the selected transport method is read by the CPU 6, and each step is executed.
The first delivery program 8a and the second delivery program 8b are installed in the control unit 5 from a storage medium (not shown) such as a hard disk, a compact disk, a magnetic optical disk, or a memory card.

Then, the effect | action of this factory is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. As described above, this factory is provided with a plurality of process chambers 21 for performing a plurality of types of processing, and each of the stacker cranes 2a and 2b is shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 12 (a). As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the transfer container C is transferred to the row of process chambers 21 on the side close to each other.
Specifically, the stacker crane 2 receives, for example, an empty transfer container C from a storage shelf (not shown) on the transfer table 45 and moves to the front of the process chamber 21 for, for example, weighing and filling. Next, the conveyance table 45 enters the process chamber 21 through the door 22 at a position slightly higher than the placement surface of the conveyor conveyance mechanism 23, and the conveyance table 45 descends from the upper side of the conveyors 23a and 23a and conveys it. The container C is placed on the conveyor transport mechanism 23. Then, when the transfer platform 45 retreats to the passage 12 and closes the door 22, for example, a door (not shown) formed on the partition wall 24 is opened, and the transfer container C is transferred horizontally to the processing position by the conveyor transfer mechanism 23. The In addition, in FIG. 11, the process chamber 21 is drawn roughly.

Next, the partition wall 24 of the airlock chamber is closed, and, for example, the raw material powder is weighed and stored in the transfer container C. And the conveyance container C is carried out from the process chamber 21 to the channel | path 12 in the reverse order to the carried-in order. Next, the transport container C is transported to the process chamber 21 in which, for example, a subsequent granulation process is performed. In this way, the transport container C is sequentially transported to a plurality of process chambers 21 that perform processing such as sieving, molding, tableting, inspection, and packaging.
In the case of performing the above-described tableting process, in the process chamber 21, a processed product supply pipe 27 is connected to a take-out port (not shown) on the lower surface of the transport container C, and this processed product is put into the tableting machine 26 on the lower side. The tableting process is performed. The object to be processed is stored in the transfer container C below the process chamber 21, for example. When the process is completed, the transport container C is carried out to the passage 12 by the stacker crane 2 through the door 22 formed below the tableting machine 26. In this way, a solid pharmaceutical preparation, which is the final product, is manufactured from the raw material powder.
At this time, when the transfer container C is transferred between the plurality of process chambers 21, as described above, when transferring the transfer container C to the line of the process chambers 21 facing each other through the passage 12, for example, a sieving process is performed. When the tableting process is performed after the transfer, the transfer container C is delivered according to the selected programs 8a and 8b as follows.

  First, a case where the first transfer mode M1 is selected in the first delivery program 8a will be described. In this case, as will be described below, in any transport container C, one stacker crane 2a (2b) directly transports across the rail 31 of the other stacker crane 2b (2a) (double transport). ) Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 11B and FIG. 12B, the stacker crane 2a on the side traversed on the rail 31 is regulated so as not to move horizontally, for example. The stacker crane 2a retreats to a position where it does not interfere with the operation of the stacker crane 2b that performs conveyance (performs double conveyance) via the rail 31 and stops at a predetermined position. When the stacker crane 2a is retracted, the retracted position is set to a position facing the transfer port 16a, for example, as shown in FIG. 12 (b).

  Then, the stacker crane 2b that performs double conveyance takes out the conveyance container C from one side on both sides of the passage 12, for example, the process chamber 21 that has been subjected to, for example, sieving processing in the vicinity of the stacker crane 2b, and performs the next tableting. While moving to the position facing the process chamber 21 on the other side where processing is performed, the lift 44 is raised and lowered to the same height position as the process chamber 21. Subsequently, the conveyance stand 45 is extended through the rail 31 of the other stacker crane 2a, and the conveyance container C is directly carried into the process chamber 21 where the tableting process is performed. When the transport table 45 that has become empty (without the transport container C mounted) is stored on the lift 44, the stacker crane 2b moves to the next process and the operation is restricted (retracted). For the stacker crane 2a, the operation restriction and the retreat instruction are released, and the subsequent processing is performed. When the process is completed in the process chamber 21 where the tableting process is performed, for example, the transport container C is taken out by the stacker crane 2a adjacent to the process chamber 21.

  Next, a case where the second transfer mode M2 is selected in the first delivery program 8a will be described. In this case as well, any transport container C is transported as follows. For example, the stacker crane 2b that has unloaded the transfer container C from the process chamber 21 that has been subjected to the sieving process moves to a position facing the delivery port 16b, as shown in FIG. Then, the transfer table 45 extends through the transfer port 16 b, the transfer table 45 descends from above the mounting surface of the horizontal transfer mechanism 62 of the transfer mechanism 61, and the transfer container C is mounted on the transfer mechanism 61. The stacker crane 2b then moves to pull back the carriage 45 into the passage 12 and perform another conveyance.

  The transfer container C placed on the transfer mechanism 61 is transferred to a position facing the transfer port 16a on the other side by the horizontal transfer by the conveyors 64 and 65 and the change of the transfer direction as described above. Then, the stacker crane 2a moves to the front of the delivery port 16a and extends the transport table 45 from the slightly lower side than the mounting surface of the horizontal transport mechanism 62 via the delivery port 16a, and moves the transport container C downward. The transfer container C is received by lifting from the side and pulling back to the passage 12. Thus, the transport container C is transported from the stacker crane 2b to the stacker crane 2a through the transfer mechanism 61 safely without interfering with each other (without colliding the stacker cranes 2a and 2b). Thereafter, the stacker crane 2a is moved to the process chamber 21 in which the transport container C is subsequently subjected to the tableting process, for example, the process chamber 21 in the same level as or different from the process chamber 21 in which the sieving process is performed. It will be transported.

  Next, a case where the second delivery program 8b is selected will be described. In this case, the first transfer mode M1 and the second transfer mode are performed in accordance with the processing to be performed on the object to be processed and the processing object stored in the transfer container C or the progress of the process. M2 is appropriately switched (selected). As described above, when switching between the modes M1 and M2, for example, the processing is preferentially advanced in accordance with, for example, the progress of the processing in the factory or the priority of the processing (the priority is high or the progress is delayed). ) For the transport container C, the transport of the other stacker crane 2 is transported by double transport even if the operation of the other stacker crane 2 is temporarily stopped, and the other transport containers C are routed via the delivery mechanism 61 (via And may be set to be transported. Further, for example, for the process chamber 21 that performs a process that requires a long time or a process that needs to be started (finished) immediately, the transfer container C is transferred by double transfer so that the process can be started as soon as possible. The transport container C may be transported via the delivery mechanism 61 to the process chamber 21 that performs the process that ends or the process that is less urgent.

  On the other hand, by carrying out double conveyance (by restricting the operation of one stacker crane 2), for example, when processing of the entire factory may be delayed, the conveyance container C is delivered via the delivery mechanism 61. . In addition, when it is necessary to carry the transport container C to a position away from the door 22 in the process chamber 21, for example, a machine (processing device) for supplying powder such as a tableting machine or an inspection machine is located in the center of the process chamber 21. In order to place the transport container (container) C for supplying the powder directly above the machine, the transport container C is carried in by the stacker crane 2 close to the process chamber 21 via the delivery mechanism 61. You may make it let it.

  According to the above-described embodiment, in a pharmaceutical manufacturing factory that sequentially obtains a processed material by processing the processed material in the transport container C in the plurality of process chambers 21, the channels 12 are parallel to each other in the horizontally extending passage 12. Two rails 31 and 31 are provided, and two stacker cranes 2a and 2b that move along each of the rails 31 and 31 to transport the transport container C are installed. A plurality of process chambers 21 are arranged on both sides of the passage 12 along the direction. In addition, the transport table 45 for directly transporting the transport container C taken out from the process chamber 21 on one side of the process chamber 21 on the right side of the passage 12 and the process chamber 21 on the left side to the process chamber 21 on the other side is provided with It is provided on both stacker cranes 2. Therefore, the transfer container C can be delivered in parallel by the stacker crane 2 adjacent to the process chamber 21 on one side and the process chamber 21 on the other side. When the transfer container C is transferred to or from the process chamber 21 on the side, the transfer container C taken out from the process chamber 21 on one side by any of the stacker cranes 2 is used to process the other side using the stacker crane 2. Since it can convey directly to the chamber 21, the conveyance container C can be conveyed rapidly. Accordingly, the transport container C that has been processed can be transported promptly, and therefore, for example, processing with a high priority (urgent level) can be preferentially advanced. At this time, since two stacker cranes 2 are arranged in one passage 12, the conveyance capacity of the conveyance container C is approximately doubled compared to the case where one stacker crane 2 is arranged in the passage 12. Can be increased.

Further, when the double transport is performed, the operation of the stacker crane 2 traversing the rail 31 is restricted or retracted to the retracted position, so that interference (collision) between the two stacker cranes 2 can be surely avoided. be able to.
Further, a delivery mechanism 61 for delivering the transfer container C between the two stacker cranes 2a, 2b is provided in an outer region on one end side (front side) of the passage 12. Therefore, the transfer container C can be transported from the process chamber 21 on one side to the process chamber 21 on the other side via the delivery mechanism 61 using the two stacker cranes 2a and 2b. Therefore, since the conveyance method of the conveyance container C can be selected from two conveyance methods (the first conveyance mode M1 and the second conveyance mode M2), the conveyance container C can be conveyed with a high degree of freedom. Further, by providing the programs 8a and 8b, only one of the modes M1 and M2 can be selected. For example, these modes M1 and M2 can be switched as appropriate according to the progress of processing in the factory. Since it can do, the freedom degree of the conveyance method of the conveyance container C can be raised further. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of factory operation.

  When the transport container C is transported in the first transport mode M1, since the conveyor transport mechanism 23 is provided in the process chamber 21, the transport container C is transported from the door 22 across the rail 31 of the stacker crane 2. In this case, for example, even if the transport container C can be transported only to a position close to the door 22 as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 13, the transport container C can be transported to the processing position by the conveyor transport mechanism 23. Therefore, even when the obstacle 30 or the like is provided in the process chamber 21 as described above, or when the processing position is set at a position away from the door 22, the transfer container C is transferred by double transfer. it can. In FIG. 13, one stacker crane 2 is omitted, and the conveyor transport mechanism 23 is schematically shown.

  Further, when the transport container C is transported in the second transport mode M2, by providing a delivery mechanism 61 for transporting the transport container C horizontally with respect to the passage 12, the so-called vertical transport mechanism of the stacker crane 2 is used. Then, the transfer container C can be delivered to the plurality of process chambers 21 disposed on both sides of the passage 12 over a plurality of layers. Furthermore, since the stacker crane 2 can move to receive the transport container C transported by the delivery mechanism 61 after the processing of the stacker crane 2 is finished, the transport efficiency is lowered (the standby time of the stacker crane 2 and the interruption of the processing occur). ) And the transfer container C can be transferred with high transfer efficiency. Furthermore, when the transfer container 61 is transferred by the transfer mechanism 61, it is not necessary to cross the rail 31 of the stacker crane 2. Therefore, for example, there is no risk of the stacker cranes 2 colliding with each other. Since it is not necessary to limit the operation (movement) of the stacker crane 2 in order to prevent a collision, the transfer container C can be delivered safely and in a manner that increases the transfer efficiency of the stacker crane 2 in the entire factory.

  Furthermore, the two delivery ports 16a and 16b for delivering the transfer container C between the passage 12 and the delivery mechanism 61 are viewed from the outer length direction (Y direction in FIG. 4) of the passage 12. Since it is formed on one side of the time, the horizontal conveyance path constituting the delivery mechanism 61 can be shortened, the delivery mechanism 61 can be simplified and can be constructed at low cost, and the conveyance container C can be conveyed quickly. . Further, since the communication passage of the delivery mechanism 61 can be arranged on one side of the passage 12 of the stacker crane 2, the space on the other side can be used effectively or the space can be eliminated, and the equipment can be simplified.

  When performing the above double conveyance, for example, when the distance between the two stacker cranes 2a and 2b is sufficiently long and there is no possibility of interference, the stacker crane 2 that does not carry the double conveyance is usually not stopped or retreated. Or the stacker crane 2 may carry out double conveyance as shown in FIG. Further, for example, the stacker crane 2 that performs double conveyance waits at a position facing the process chamber 21 into which the transfer container C is carried in, for example, until the two stacker cranes 2a and 2b are sufficiently separated from each other so that they do not interfere with each other. You may make it do.

  At this time, for example, since the transport amount (movement amount) of one stacker crane 2a traversing the rail 31 (not double transport) is large, the one stacker crane 2a is in a position where the other stacker crane 2b is waiting. When frequently moving in the vicinity, there is a case where the waiting time of the other stacker crane 2 that performs double conveyance becomes long. Therefore, in such a case, as shown in FIG. 15, for example, a buffer region 100 in which the transfer container C is temporarily placed may be provided at a side position of the passage 12 in the protruding portion 14 described above. . In FIG. 15, 102 and 102 are transported so as to be wider than the width of the transport table 45 and narrower than the width of the transport container C, as in the conveyors 23a and 23a described above. A pair of U-shaped members that are separated from each other in the advancing and retracting direction of the table 45, and the transfer table 45 moves up and down with respect to the upper surfaces (mounting surfaces) of the U-shaped members 102 and 102, thereby On the other hand, the transfer container C is delivered.

  By providing the buffer area 100, for example, even when one stacker crane 2b needs to wait for double conveyance, the conveyance container C can be temporarily placed (stored) in the buffer area 100. it can. Therefore, this one stacker crane 2b can carry another conveyance container C until it can be double-conveyed (for example, the movement amount of the other stacker crane 2a is reduced). (Standby time) is reduced, and the transport container C can be transported efficiently. Further, since the buffer area 100 is provided at a position that does not interfere with the protruding portion 14 that is an area out of the alignment of the process chambers 21, that is, the stacker crane 2 that performs a normal conveying operation, the movement amount of any stacker crane 2 Even when there are many, the stacker crane 2 which performs double conveyance can access this one buffer area | region 100. FIG. The buffer regions 100 may be provided on both sides of the passage 12, or may be provided at a plurality of locations on both sides of the passage 12, respectively.

  Moreover, in such a factory, the to-be-processed object processed in each process chamber 21 and the weight (volume) of a processed material may be measured. In this case, as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the U-shaped member 102 is provided as a weight measuring unit common to the factory or floor below the U-shaped members 102, 102 described above. , 102 and the transfer container C may be provided with a weighing meter 103 for weighing the object to be processed in the transfer container C and the weight of the process object. For example, after a predetermined process is finished or each time each process is finished, the transport container C is transported to the buffer region 100 by one of the stacker cranes 2a and 2b and The weight will be weighed.

Thus, by providing a common weighing meter 103 in the factory or on the floor and making it possible to access this weighing meter 103 (buffer area 100) for any of the two stacker cranes 2, for example, each process chamber 21 As compared with the case where each of the weighing scales 103 is provided, maintenance work such as calibration such as zero point alignment of the weighing scale 103 can be simplified. The weighing scale 103 may also be provided on both sides of the passage 12 or at a plurality of locations together with the buffer area 100. In FIG. 15, the buffer area 100 is schematically drawn large.
Further, in providing this buffer area 100 (weighing scale 103), as shown in FIG. 17, the buffer area 100 may also be used as a delivery mechanism 61 (a horizontal transport mechanism 62 adjacent to the delivery port 16). The weigh scale 103 is configured so that it can be moved up and down by providing an elevating mechanism (not shown) on the U-shaped members 102 and 102 described above, and the U-shaped members 102 and 102 are placed on the mounting surface of the horizontal transport mechanism 62. It is comprised so that a mounting surface may raise / lower.

  In this case, for example, when the transport container C delivered to the delivery mechanism 61 by one stacker crane 2a can be double-conveyed thereafter, it is carried out by the stacker crane 2a. Further, when the weight of the transport container C is measured, when the transport container C is placed on the delivery mechanism 61, the U-shaped members 102 and 102 rise from the lower side of the transport container C, and are transported horizontally. The transport container C is lifted from the mechanism 62 and the transport container C is weighed. In this way, by combining the buffer area 100 and the delivery mechanism 61, it is not necessary to separately provide the buffer area 100, so that the installation space of the factory can be reduced. Also in this case, the buffer region 100 (the weighing meter 103) may be provided on one side or both sides of the transfer ports 16a and 16b. Further, the weigh scale 103 may be incorporated under the horizontal transport mechanism 62.

Further, the buffer region 100 may be provided in the middle or upper part of the process chambers 21 without being provided in the region (projecting portion 14) outside the process chambers 21. In this case, as shown in FIG. 18, in order to store the transport containers C in the buffer regions 100 arranged adjacent to each other when the double transport cannot be performed (when the transport amount of one stacker crane 2 is large). The buffer areas 100 and 100 are provided on both sides of the passage 12. In FIG. 18, the two buffer areas 100, 100 are arranged so as to face each other with the passage 12 therebetween, but may be arranged so as to be separated from each other.
In the above example, the case where the transfer container C is carried into the process chamber 21 as a case of double transfer has been described. However, for example, the transfer container C crosses the rail 31 of the other stacker crane 2b by one stacker crane 2a. And the transport container C may be transported into the row of process chambers 21 adjacent to the stacker crane 2a.
In the above example, the transfer container 61 is configured to be able to advance and retreat in any direction between the transfer ports 16a and 16b as the transfer mechanism 61. However, the transfer mechanism 61 is a one-way passage in which the transfer directions are opposite to each other. Two passages may be provided.

  In the above example, as an example in which the delivery mechanism 61 is used, the example in which the delivery container C is delivered between the rows of the process chambers 21 facing each other via the passage 12 in the second delivery mode M2 has been described. In addition to such a case, for example, when the carrying amount of one stacker crane 2a (2b) suddenly increases compared to the other stacker crane 2b (2a), for example, the one stacker crane 2a (2b) It may be applied to the case where the other stacker crane 2b (2a) is in charge of transporting. As a case where the transport amount of one stacker crane 2 suddenly increases, for example, when processing is simultaneously completed in a plurality of process chambers 21 handled by one stacker crane 2.

  In this case, for example, the transport container C delivered from the one stacker crane 2a (2b) to the delivery mechanism 61 and taken out by the other stacker crane 2b (2a) comes close to the stacker crane 2b (2a). It is transferred to the process chamber 21 where the next processing is arranged, or is transferred to the process chamber 21 where the next processing is arranged adjacent to one stacker crane 2a (2b) by performing double transfer. Is done. By transporting the transport container C in this way, the transport amount of the transport container C can be leveled between the two stacker cranes 2a, 2b, so that the transport container C can be transported efficiently. it can. Further, when the transport amount of one stacker crane 2a suddenly increases as described above, the transport container C may be transported by double transport without using the delivery mechanism 61. Specifically, for example, the other stacker crane 2a may be transported. After the stacker crane 2b crosses the rail 31 of this one stacker crane 2a, the transport container C is unloaded, and the transport container C is accommodated on the lift 44 and moved to a position facing the process chamber 21 where the next processing is performed. You may make it carry this conveyance container C in the said process chamber 21 across the rail 31 of one stacker crane 2a again.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, a delivery mechanism 61 may be used when delivering the transport container C between the outside of the passage 12. In this example, a warehouse 71 for storing a plurality of transport containers C is shown, and the warehouse 71 is long and disposed at a position close to the delivery mechanism 61 so as to be orthogonal to the passage 12. And between this warehouse 71 and the orthogonal conveyor 63 adjacent to the said warehouse 71, the horizontal conveyance means 72, such as a conveyor, is provided, and the conveyance container C carried out from the door 73 of the warehouse 71 is this horizontal. It is configured to be conveyed toward one of the delivery ports 16 (stacker crane 2) via the conveyance means 72 and the delivery mechanism 61. Further, for example, the transport container C in which a processed product such as an end product that has been subjected to a plurality of processes or an intermediate product that is stored until the next process is stored is transferred from any stacker crane 2 to the delivery mechanism 61 and In some cases, it is stored in the warehouse 71 via the horizontal conveying means 72. In FIG. 19, reference numerals 74, 75, and 76 denote a stacker crane and a conveyor and a shelf configured so that the transport table 45 can be raised and lowered in the same manner as the conveyor transport mechanism 23 described above. Then, the transfer container C is transferred between the transfer mechanism 61 and the shelf 76.

By connecting the warehouse 71 for storing the transfer container C and the delivery mechanism 61 via the horizontal transfer means 72 as described above, the warehouse 71 can be used for any stacker crane 2 without providing a separate large-scale transfer device. The transfer container C can be easily transferred between the two.
An example of the layout of the factory where such a warehouse 71 is arranged is shown in FIG. In this example, a plurality of transfer mechanisms 61 are straddled between the transfer mechanism 61 and the horizontal transfer means 72 so that the transfer container C can be transferred between the warehouse 71 and the plurality of passages 12 (transfer mechanisms 61). A transport device 81 such as a stacker crane or a conveyor that can travel horizontally is installed. By arranging the warehouse 71 in this way, the transport container C can be transported between the warehouse 71 and the plurality of passages 12, and the transport container C can be transported between the plurality of passages 12 by the transport device 81. .
In addition, as an example of delivering the transfer container C to and from the outside of the passage 12 using the delivery mechanism 61 in this way, in addition to such a warehouse 71, for example, on the same floor (layer) as the passage 12 Another path 12 (process chamber 21) provided may be used.

Further, when installing the delivery mechanism 61, the rail 31 of the stacker crane 2b is disposed longer than the rail 31 of the stacker crane 2a, and the two delivery ports 16 and 16 are provided on one side of the passage 12 (left side in FIG. 4). 21. As shown in FIG. 21, the end positions of the rails 31 and 31 on the front side are aligned, and the transfer ports 16 and 16 are formed on the wall surfaces close to the respective stacker cranes 2a and 2b. Also good. In this case, the delivery mechanism 61 is a combination of a plurality of horizontal transport mechanisms 62 and orthogonal conveyors 63 so as to bypass the front end of the passage 12 on the front side.
When the delivery mechanism 61 is arranged as shown in FIG. 21, in order to connect the warehouse 71 and the passage 12, for example, as shown in FIG. 22, horizontal transport mechanisms 62, 62 extending from the delivery ports 16, 16 are used. You may make it an edge part adjoin to the doors 73 and 73 of the warehouse 71, respectively. In this case, when the transfer container C is transferred between the two stacker cranes 2a and 2b, the transfer container C is transferred via, for example, the stacker crane 74 and the conveyors 75 and 75 in the warehouse 71. .

  In each of the above examples, as an example in which the transfer table 45 is extended across the rail 31 of one stacker crane 2 and the transfer container C is delivered to the process chamber 21, an example in which the first transfer mode M1 is performed will be described. However, the transport container C may be transported in this way also when any of the stacker cranes 2 breaks down or when any of the stacker cranes 2 is maintained.

  In this case, in the program storage unit 8 described above, as shown in FIG. 23, the first delivery program 8a and the first delivery program 8a described above that are used when the stacker crane 2 is not broken or maintenance is not performed. In addition to the normal operation program 91a composed of the delivery program 8b of No. 2, when the stacker crane 2 breaks down or the maintenance of the stacker crane 2 is performed, the carrying operation of the failed (maintained) stacker crane 2 is normal ( A backup program 91b is stored in which a command for controlling the operation of the normal stacker crane 2 is set so that the stacker crane 2 takes over. As will be described later, the backup program 91b is used, for example, to a position where the stacker crane 2 previously failed by the operator or the stacker crane 2 to be maintained is not interfered with the normal operation of the stacker crane 2, such as a position close to the delivery port 16. After moving (retracting), the operation is executed by selecting a backup mode (not shown) provided on the operation screen 9 described above. Therefore, in this example, the delivery position of the transport container C via the delivery mechanism 61 and the retracted position are shared.

When the stacker crane 2 is normal (when the stacker crane 2 is not broken or not subjected to maintenance), one of the first delivery program 8a and the second delivery program 8b is selected as described above, and the transport container is selected. When C is transported and one of the stacker cranes 2 fails or maintenance is performed, the transport container C is transported as follows.
For example, when one stacker crane 2a breaks down or maintenance is performed in the passage 12, for example, the operation of the other stacker crane 2b is temporarily stopped, or the stacker crane 2b is allowed to perform normal conveyance. As shown in (a), for example, the operator retracts the failed stacker crane 2a to a position where it does not interfere with the operation of the stacker crane 2b, for example, a position close to the transfer port 16a. Then, the operator selects the backup program 91b on the operation screen 9. As shown in FIGS. 24 (a) and 24 (b), the normal stacker crane 2b is responsible for the transport of the failed stacker crane 2a in addition to the transport of the stacker crane 2b. That is, it operates so that the normal stacker crane 2b can cover all the transport containers C that the stacker cranes 2a and 2b handle. Further, in accordance with the operation of the stacker crane 2b, each facility in the factory such as a conveyor (not shown) that carries in / out the transfer container C from the outside is also operated.

  When transporting the stacker crane 2a is performed, the transport platform 45 of the stacker crane 2b extends across the rail 31 of the stacker crane 2a. Moreover, when conveying the conveyance container C between the row | line | columns of the process chambers 21 which oppose each other via the channel | path 12, the normal stacker crane 2b is, for example, the process chamber 21 on one side by the above-described double conveyance. After the transfer container C is taken out of the transfer container C, the transfer table 45 is extended to the process chamber 21 where the next processing is performed, for example, the one process chamber 21 or the other process chamber 21 and the transfer container C is transferred. Thereafter, for example, when the stacker crane 2b is transporting the transport container C to both sides of the process chambers 21 facing each other, or at the night when the factory operation is stopped, for example, an operator breaks down. Repair or replace the stacked stacker crane 2a.

  In this way, when one stacker crane 2 breaks down, the other stacker crane 2 takes over the transport of the stacker crane 2 so that the transport container C is transported between the process chambers 21 on both sides of the passage 12, for example. Even in this case, the transfer container C can be directly transferred by the normal (non-failed) stacker crane 2. Therefore, even if any of the stacker cranes 2 breaks down, the production stop of the entire factory can be prevented, so that the reliability of transporting the transport container C in such a factory can be improved. Moreover, also when performing maintenance of one stacker crane 2, the transport container C is similarly transported by the other stacker crane 2, and the same effect is obtained.

  In the above example, the partition wall 24 is provided in the process chamber 21, but the partition wall 24 may not be provided. In that case, since the stroke of the transfer table 45 is long as described above, when the transfer container C is transferred by the stacker crane 2 close to the process chamber 21, the conveyor at the processing position directly by the stacker crane 2 is used. The transport container C may be placed on the transport mechanism 23. Moreover, although the conveyor conveyance mechanism 23 which can convey the conveyance container C horizontally between the position close to the door 22 and the processing position in the process chamber 21 is provided, for example, the above-described obstacle 30 is not provided. In this case, or in the case of the process chamber 21 that performs processing such as packaging, where the processing position can be set at a position close to the door 22, as shown in FIG. It may be arranged.

  In the above example, the present invention has been described by taking a pharmaceutical factory that manufactures a solid preparation as an example. However, for example, in addition to such a solid preparation, a factory that sequentially performs processing between a plurality of process chambers 21, The present invention may be applied to equipment for transporting the transport container C by an automatic transport device such as the stacker crane 2 between the process chambers 21, for example, a factory for manufacturing foods and chemicals.

It is a perspective view which shows an example of the production factory of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows said factory. The perspective view which shows a part in process chamber of said factory. It is a top view which shows said factory. It is a side view which shows said factory. It is a perspective view which shows the stacker crane used in said factory. It is a side view which shows an example of the conveyance stand of said stacker crane. It is a side view which shows an example of an effect | action of said factory. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of said process chamber. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the control part of said factory. It is a side view which shows an example of an effect | action of said factory. It is a side view which shows an example of an effect | action of said factory. It is explanatory drawing explaining the effect acquired in said factory. It is the schematic which shows the effect | action in the factory of said other example. It is a top view which shows the other example of said factory. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the buffer area | region in said other example. It is a top view which shows the other example of said factory. It is a top view which shows the other example of said factory. It is a top view which shows the other example of said factory. It is the schematic which shows the other example of said factory. It is a top view which shows the other example of said factory. It is a top view which shows the other example of said factory. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the program of the control part in the other example of said factory. It is the schematic which shows an example of an effect | action of said factory. It is a side view which shows the other example of said factory.

Explanation of symbols

C Transport container 2 Stacker crane 12 Passage 16 Delivery port 21 Process chamber 23 Mounting table 45 Transport table 61 Delivery mechanism 71 Warehouse

Claims (12)

In a processing facility for sequentially processing a workpiece in a plurality of process chambers to obtain a workpiece,
A transfer chamber having a left-side transfer path and a right-side transfer path extending parallel to each other in the front-rear direction, and
A plurality of process chambers provided adjacent to the left side and the right side of the transfer chamber, respectively, for processing the object to be processed in the transfer container;
A transfer port for delivering a transfer container to and from the process chamber, respectively, provided on a left wall surface portion and a right wall surface portion of the transfer chamber;
In order to deliver the object to be processed or the transfer container in which the process object is stored to the transfer port of the left wall surface part, a transfer table for holding the transfer container is attached so as to be movable up and down and back and forth in the horizontal direction. A first stacker crane configured to be movable along the left conveyance path;
In order to transfer the transfer container to the transfer port of the right wall surface portion, a transfer stand for holding the transfer container is mounted so as to be movable up and down and to move back and forth in the left and right directions, and movable along the right transfer path. A second stacked stacker crane,
A transfer mechanism for transferring a transfer container between the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane by transferring a transfer container through an outer region of the transfer chamber;
In order to transfer the transfer container between the first stacker crane and the transfer mechanism, and between the second stacker crane and the transfer mechanism, a first wall formed in the wall surface of the transfer chamber, respectively. A first delivery port and a second delivery port,
When the first stacker crane, the second stacker crane, and the delivery mechanism deliver the transport containers from the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane to the delivery mechanism, the transport containers in the delivery mechanism. With respect to the mounting surface, it is configured to directly transfer the transfer container from the transfer table to the delivery mechanism by passing the transfer table holding the transfer container from the upper side to the lower side, When the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane each receive a transport container from the delivery mechanism, the transport table that does not hold the transport container with respect to the mounting surface on which the transport container is placed By passing from the lower side to the upper side, the transfer mechanism to the transport table Treatment facility, characterized in that is configured to convey the feed container directly.   When the transfer container is transferred between the transfer port on one side and the transfer port on the other side of the transfer port on the left side of the transfer chamber and the transfer port on the right side of the transfer chamber, the first stacker crane or the first The processing facility according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that executes a first transport mode in which the transport is performed directly by the two stacker cranes. When transferring the transfer container from the one side transfer port to the other side transfer port, the control unit is configured to select one of the first transfer mode and the second transfer mode. A selection means,
In the second transfer mode, the transfer container is transferred from the transfer port on the one side to the transfer mechanism via the stacker crane on the transfer port side, the transfer port, and the transfer port on the other transfer port side. The processing equipment according to claim 2, wherein the processing facility is a mode of transporting to the transport port on the other side via the stacker crane on the other transport port side.   The control unit includes: a first delivery program that transports a plurality of transport containers only in one of the first transport mode and the second transport mode; and the first transfer program according to each of the plurality of transport containers. The processing equipment according to claim 3, further comprising: a second delivery program that selects one of the transport mode and the second transport mode and transports each transport container. The end of one of the left transport path and the right transport path extends beyond the end of the other transport path,
In the extended region, on the wall surface portion on the extension region side of the other transport path, the delivery for delivering the transport container between the stacker crane traveling along the one transport path and the delivery mechanism Mouth is formed,
In a region near the end of the other conveyance path, a conveyance container is provided between the stacker crane that travels along the other conveyance path and the delivery mechanism on the wall surface opposite to the one conveyance path. processing equipment of claims 1, characterized in that the transfer port for performing the delivery is formed according to any one of the four. One of the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane crosses over the transport path of the other stacker crane to deliver the transport container between the transport port on the one side and the transport port on the other side. The processing equipment according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the other stacker crane is sometimes stopped at a position where it does not interfere with the one stacker crane. At least one of the end portions in the front-rear direction of the transfer chamber extends beyond the end portions of the process chambers arranged on both sides of the transfer chamber to form a protruding portion,
At least one of the left side and the right side of the transfer chamber in the protrusion is for temporarily placing the transfer container at a position where the transfer container can be delivered by the first stacker crane or the second stacker crane. The processing facility according to claim 1, wherein a buffer area is provided. The processing facility according to claim 7, wherein the delivery mechanism also serves as the buffer area.   On the right and left sides of the transfer chamber, between the process chambers arranged along the length direction of the transfer chamber, the transfer container can be transferred at a position where the transfer container can be delivered by the first stacker crane or the second stacker crane. The processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein a buffer area for temporarily mounting each is provided.   The processing facility according to claim 7, wherein the buffer region includes a weight measuring unit for measuring the weight of the transfer container.   The processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein the process chambers are arranged over a plurality of levels. The process chamber is arranged over a plurality of levels,
The processing facility according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the delivery mechanism is arranged in one of the process chambers arranged in a plurality of levels.

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